Apparatus and Computer Program Product in a Processor for Performing In-Memory Tracing Using Existing Communication Paths

An apparatus for performing in-memory hardware tracing using an existing first system bus in a data processing system, said data processing system including a first processor that includes a first plurality of processing units coupled together utilizing said first system bus, said first plurality of processing units including a first memory controller coupled to the first system bus that controls a first system memory, said data processing system also including a second processor that includes a second plurality of processing units coupled together utilizing a second system bus, said second plurality of processing units including a second memory controller coupled to the second system bus that controls a second system memory, said apparatus comprising:

• said first and second system buses transmitting information among said first and second plurality of processing units when said first and second processors are in a normal, non-tracing mode, said information being formatted according to a standard system bus protocol, wherein said first and second system buses are coupled together;
• the second memory controller dynamically allocating a number of a plurality of write buffers to a hardware trace facility for storing hardware trace data generated by a selected trace, wherein said trace is a particular type that has a bandwidth, and wherein said number of said plurality of write buffers are needed in order to accommodate said bandwidth, and further wherein said plurality of write buffers are in said second processor and are external to said second system memory, and still further wherein said plurality of write buffers are connected directly to said second system bus, and still further wherein said second memory controller is connected directly to said second system bus and controls said plurality of write buffers, and still further wherein said hardware trace data is written from said ones of said plurality of write buffers to said second system memory without said hardware trace data being transmitted through another device;
• a hardware trace facility capturing said hardware trace data, wherein said hardware trace facility is located in said first processor and is connected directly to said first system bus, wherein information is transmitted directly between said hardware trace facility and said first system bus without being transmitted through another device;
• and
• said first system bus transmitting said hardware trace data to said second memory controller for storage in said second system memory, said second memory controller being coupled directly to said second system bus, said hardware trace data being formatted according to said standard system bus protocol for transmission via said second system bus.

A computer program product for performing in-memory hardware tracing using an existing first system bus in a data processing system, said data processing system including a first processor that includes a first plurality of processing units coupled together utilizing said first system bus, said first plurality of processing units including a first memory controller coupled to the first system bus that controls a first system memory, said data processing system also including a second processor that includes a second plurality of processing units coupled together utilizing a second system bus, said second plurality of processing units including a second memory controller coupled to the second system bus that controls a second system memory, said product comprising:

• instructions for transmitting information among said first and second plurality of processing units utilizing said first and second system buses when said first and second processors are in a normal, non-tracing mode, said information being formatted according to a standard system bus protocol, wherein said first and second system buses are coupled together;
• instructions for selecting a trace that generates hardware trace data, said trace being a particular type;
• instructions for determining a bandwidth for said particular type;
• instructions for determining a number of a plurality of write buffers that are needed in order to accommodate said bandwidth;
• instructions for dynamically allocating said number of said plurality of write buffers to a hardware trace facility for storing said hardware trace data, wherein said plurality of write buffers are in said second processor and are external to said second system memory, wherein said plurality of write buffers are connected directly to said second system bus, and further wherein said second memory controller is connected directly to said second system bus and controls said plurality of write buffers, and still further wherein said hardware trace data is written from said ones of said plurality of write buffers to said second system memory without said hardware trace data being transmitted through another device;
• instructions for capturing said hardware trace data utilizing said hardware trace facility that is located in said first processor and that is connected directly to said first system bus, wherein information is transmitted directly between said hardware trace facility and said first system bus without being transmitted through another device;
• and
• instructions for transmitting, utilizing said first system bus, said hardware trace data to said second memory controller for storage in said second system memory, said second memory controller being coupled directly to said second system bus, said hardware trace data being formatted according to said standard system bus protocol for transmission via said second system bus.